Sedum plant named &#39;Cherry Truffle&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct hybrid of  Sedum  plant substantially as shown and described characterized by pink flowers in large inflorescences, purple black leaves in summer with cut leaf margins, two-toned olive and purple leaves in the spring, strongly upright stems, and a medium, clumping habit.

BOTANICAL DENOMINATION

Sedum telephium

VARIETY DESIGNATION

‘Cherry Truffle’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sedum and given the cultivar name of ‘Cherry Truffle’. Sedum is in the family Crassulaceae. Sedum ‘Cherry Truffle’ originated from a planned cross between an unnamed proprietary, unpatented Sedum telephium seedling and Sedum telephium PP5, another proprietary, unpatented plant. The new cultivar is planned as an accent for the landscape that is of medium height with strong stems that won't fall over.

Compared to Sedum telephium PP5, the new cultivar is larger with a better crown and with a larger inflorescence.

Compared to Sedum ‘Raspberry Truffle’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,755), the new variety is larger with a broader habit with a bigger crown faster and with leaves that are purple black rather than purple brown.

This new and unique Sedum is distinguished by:

1. pink flowers in large inflorescences,

2. purple black leaves in summer with cut leaf margins,

3. two-toned olive and purple leaves in the spring,

4. strongly upright stems,

5. and a medium, clumping habit.

This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (division and tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by division and tissue culture using standard micropropagation techniques with terminal and lateral shoots, as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a three-year-old Sedum ‘Cherry Truffle’ in flower growing in full sun in the trial bed outside in August in Canby, Oreg.

FIG. 2 shows the same plant in the spring.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Sedum hybrid based on observations of two-year-old specimens grown in a the trial bed in full sun under typical outdoor conditions in Canby, Oreg. Canby is Zone 8 on the USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from a high of 95 degrees F. in August to 32 degrees F. in January. Normal rainfall in Canby is 42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions are all based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition.

-   Plant:     -   -   Type.—herbaceous perennial.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 to 9.         -   Size.—50 cm tall from the ground to the base of the             inflorescence and 54 cm wide.         -   Habit.—erect, clumping.         -   Vigor.—excellent. -   Stem:     -   -   Number.—about 15.         -   Size.—40 cm long and 11 mm wide.         -   Color.—Greyed Purple 187A.         -   Surface.—glabrous. -   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—simple.         -   Arrangement.—variable.         -   Shape.—ovate.         -   Apex.—acute.         -   Base.—cuneate.         -   Venation.—pinnate.         -   Margins.—irregularly serrate.         -   Blade size.—grows to 7.5 cm long and 4.5 cm wide.         -   Surface.—glabrous.         -   Texture.—thick, spongy, succulent.         -   Petiole.—leaves sessile.         -   Leaf color.—summer leaves topside closest to Greyed Purple             N187B, including the veins, bottom side closest to Greyed             Purple N187B except where shaded closest to Greyed Green             191A, veins Greyed Purple N186C; spring topside Greyed             Purple N187A shading to Greyed Green 191B on the bottom             half, bottom side Greyed Green 191B heavily tinted Greyed             Purple N187A, with the main vein Greyed Brown 199D on top             and bottom side. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—terminal, corymbose, umbel-like.         -   Number of flowers.—about 1000 per stem.         -   Peduncle.—8 to 10 cm tall and grows to 6 mm wide, Greyed             Purple 187A, succulent, glabrous.         -   Size.—grows to 14 cm deep and 18 cm wide.         -   Bloom period.—August through September in Canby, Oreg. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—2.5 mm wide, 4 mm deep.         -   Description.—ovoid.         -   Color.—Red Purple 59A on top half and lightening to Red             Purple 62D on bottom. -   Flower:     -   -   Type.—complete, actinomorphic.         -   Shape.—stellate.         -   Size.—6 mm deep and 11 mm wide.         -   Color.—Purple 76D.         -   Corolla description.—4 mm deep and 5 mm wide, 5 petals, each             lanceolate, 3 mm long and 1.2 mm wide, margins entire, tip             acuminate, both sides glabrous and Red Purple 59A on top             half and lightening to Red Purple 62C on bottom.         -   Calyx description.—1.5 mm deep and 1.5 mm wide, campanulate,             5 lobes, divided to the base, margins entire, tip acute,             glabrous, Grey Brown N 199B on both sides.         -   Stamen description.—10 in number, 3 mm long, filaments 3 mm             long, Red Purple 62D, anthers Yellow Orange 19A, no pollen,             male sterile.         -   Pistil description.—5 separate prominent carpels, each 3 mm             deep and 1 mm wide, Red Purple 59A on top half to Red Purple             62D on bottom half.         -   Fragrance.—none.         -   Lastingness.—each stem lasts up to a month. -   Fruit:     -   -   Type.—Ventrally dehiscent follicle, erect, attenuate.         -   Fertility.—none.         -   Color.—Brown 200A. -   Seed: no seed produced -   Disease and pest tolerance: The new cultivar is typical to the     genus. No known resistances to pests or diseases. No problems have     been found in Canby, Oreg. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct hybrid of Sedum plant as herein illustrated and described. 